Progress Report! – Days 1-4

While on quarantine it’s easy to forget what day of the week it is – it’s Sunday! We’re moving very, very quickly and aggressively to begin local production runs of face masks and hospital gowns for use by Rochester General Hospital (RGH) and other hospitals in the area. The hospital tells us they go through 10-15,000 face masks a day! This is what we’ve been doing, what we are currently working on, and what will need to be done next…

What’s happened so far

Day 1 – Thursday, March 19, 2020 – The Initial Request

RGH reached out to R. Jeffery Diduch, a senior executive at a local manufacturing facility that had been closed due to state quarantine restrictions, to see what, if anything, could be done to produce or procure more face masks and hospital gowns. Samples are provided for research.

Day 2 – Friday, March 20, 2020 – Work From Home network created

The idea of forming a network of home sewers using their own sewing machines was floated and, while on the air with Bob Lonsberry (WHAM 1180) a new dedicated email address and website were put together and the call to action was announced. The call to action went viral and over 7,000 people have offered to help our efforts.

We’re overwhelmed by the response and extremely grateful! Please, rest assured your information has been received and is secure. Unfortunately, due to the huge amount, it’s taking a long time to transcribe and organize the information. Fortunately, while people are eager to act immediately, we do have some ramp up time and an organizing framework to establish first.

Prototypes and Testing

Initial prototypes were inspected and tested by RGH officials. Brainstorming alternative sources of the increasingly rare and now highly sought after hospital grade materials kicked up boxes of unused operating room drapes, curtains, and even table covers that could be cut up and sewn into mask components. The idea is to make as quality a product as possible with what we have or can get. Furthermore, we want to standardize the sewing so it can be fast and simple, yet effective.

Sanitation and sterilization are other obvious concerns when considering the sewing with a home network so another chief requirement is the new face masks can be cleaned and sterilized prior to use in the hospital, removing that prohibitive burden from the manufacturers. It could possibly even allow the masks to be reused, if they’re washable.

We’ve written some purchase orders for key components like the elastic ties and that shipment is currently en route to our headquarters. Other components, namely the wire used in the nose bridge, have been harder to find in sufficient quantities. Thanks to the viral nature of the movement, we’ve been put in contact with an executive of a major retail chain who directed the dispatch of whatever remaining inventory they had in their warehouses and distribution centers to us, possibly even as a donation.

Conference calls with the heads of America’s few remaining clothing factories have taken place to share information, materials sourcing leads, and patterns in an effort to streamline and speed up work by removing duplication of effort across the nation.

Word of our Work From Home project reached New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office and they decided to re-activate factories across the state by declaring them “essential personnel” in the effort to manufacture face masks and hospital gowns for medical personnel.

The final prototypes were delivered to RGH for testing and evaluation. Criteria include fit, usability, capability to be sterilized in house, and functionality. Approval of the final design and pattern is expected Sunday.

R. Jeffery Diduch demonstrating how to sew a face mask to Spectrum News

What’s happening next

Attention is now being turned to hospital gowns and other personal protective equipment (PPE) garments like hair nets and booties – supplies of those are dwindling, too.

An initial run of our new masks will be made so the factory workers and delivery personnel will have something to wear when they go back to work. This is also the time to develop and document the assembly process so that we can train our Work From Home network.

Pieces continue to come together behind the scenes, too. Soon, we will be reaching out to activate those who have offered to help. While we want to move swiftly, we can’t be haphazard, so we’re doing our due diligence and getting the ultimate users, the hospital personnel, to sign off and approve everything.

The logistics of the supply chain and organization of the Work From Home sewing network is very complicated and the RGH volunteer coordinators will be assisting us.

More information will be shared on this website and through our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.

We’re thrilled to be working with people here in Rochester and a growing number across America. Our project is going viral to stop the virus! Thank you for being a part of it! <3

This is Mary Jo Colligan founder of angels of mercy and our women have been sewing dresses for young girls to help prevent human trafficking around the world for the last nine years. We are very interested and helping I have 85 women that are ready to go.

I have a sewing machine and access to a couple of other machines. I am ready and eager to sew. In the meantime have developed my own prototype using a removable band of heavy tin foil for nose pinch ( am a registered nurse and well familiar with fit of masks). I will send this to you. Perhaps it would be useful in non- hospital settings. For instance my husband and I signed up to deliver meals on wheel and I was told volunteers would be given masks. I plan to use my own and wash in hot water after use.

I have 20 years experience sewing I have to sewing machines my daughter works for a veterinarian I’ve been making me ask for them it would really be honored to help this great call you were doing please contact me with more information and the pattern thank you

I have more than 25 years experience as a senior human resources executive. I have past experience overseeing the volunteer function in a healthcare setting, as well as have managed many projects. I am currently self-employed as an organizational effectiveness consultant, and like many others, I too have seen my work disappear overnight. I have already offered to sew, but would be happy to help in any additional capacity you may need.

I have experience in managing a remote workforce in the healthcare industry and I am also a seamstress with 4 sewing machines. I would love to have the opportunity to help in any way I can during this crisis.

My background as a contractor in events management and experience with community outreach during Sandy (when I lived in NY City area) could be of some help. I do sew (with theater and quilting connections here and in NY City area too) and am available to do that … but prefer the organization, outreach and thinking outside of the box aspects of emergency services.

Rochester has a Quality Council with leaders who all have black belts in Quality management from Kodak and Xerox. Mike Caceci, is a leader at the Quality Council, mcaceci@excelperform.com is some one who could connect you with capable leaders. One such leader is Cherie Werner, keuka880@yahoo.com who led a world wide thermal paper team for Kodak. I have asked her to reach out to you. Another leader is Dan Sapper,
I have reached out to him but have not heard back yet. I am ready to sew.

I have been sewing for 30 years experience sewing machine. I make my own clothes. I would be honored to help this great call you were doing, please contact me with more information and the pattern thank you.

I have a vast experience how to create networks and manage people. I used to be a director of a small not for profit and helped to grow the organization. My Master’s is in Adult Learning has also provided me with an excellent foundation for this very thing. It applies to educating people on how to do things, based on what is most effective to manage the vast types of learners and communicators. I also completed on-line instructional design courses as part of my master’s I think that may be better for my talents, than actual sewing, but I am willing to do that too. Whatever it takes!

Hello! I currently am the CEO of my business Lico haute couture. I’m sewing for 52 years. I have 5 sewing machines, 2 Overlock machines. Although that I am in a risk group. I put aside all my bridal and custom made clothing to help in this effort. Let’s win the war of this virus!!! !!!

We can print, cut & produce boxes, shippers, kits to hold the materials. We can help with distribution as well – located in Gates.http://www.excelsussolutions.com
Thank you

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Project Summary

MISSION: To make face masks & hospital gowns (PPE) for local medical personnel & vulnerable communities using a volunteer at-home sewing network to augment domestic commercial manufacturing in order to meet the high demand while fighting the novel coronavirus Covid-19.

SIGN UP to help hospitals and organizations requesting masks here at this link: OPPORTUNITIES